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RATIONALE: Sodium thiosulfate may reduce or prevent hearing loss in young patients receiving cisplatin for cancer. It is not yet known whether sodium thiosulfate is more effective than no additional treatment in preventing hearing loss.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying sodium thiosulfate to see how well it works in preventing hearing loss in young patients receiving cisplatin for newly diagnosed germ cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, or other malignancy.

To compare the efficacy of sodium thiosulfate vs observation in preventing hearing loss in young patients receiving cisplatin for the treatment of newly diagnosed germ cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, or other malignancy.

Secondary

To compare the mean change in hearing thresholds for key frequencies in these patients.

To compare the incidences of cisplatin-related grade 3 and 4 nephrotoxicity and grade 3 and 4 cytopenia in these patients.

To compare the event-free survival and overall survival of these patients.

To evaluate the association of two key gene mutations (TPMT and COMT) with the development of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in these patients.

Arm I (sodium thiosulfate): Patients receive sodium thiosulfate IV over 15 minutes beginning 6 hours after the completion of each cisplatin infusion. Treatment with sodium thiosulfate continues until the completion of cisplatin therapy.

Arm II (observation): Patients do not receive sodium thiosulfate.

Patients undergo audiological assessment at baseline, prior to each course of cisplatin, and then at 4 weeks and 1 year after the last course of cisplatin or other cancer treatment. Some patients may undergo saliva collection for DNA studies.

After completion of study, patients are followed periodically for 10 years.

Patients receive sodium thiosulfate IV (dosage 16 g/m2 or 533 mg per kg for patients whose therapeutic protocol administers cisplatin on a per kg basis due to young age or small body) over 15 minutes beginning 6 hours after the completion of each cisplatin infusion. Treatment with sodium thiosulfate continues until the completion of cisplatin therapy.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

1 Year to 18 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Newly diagnosed (previously untreated or currently receiving cancer treatment for the diagnosis that made the patient eligible for this study) with germ cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, or other malignancy

Planning to receive a chemotherapy treatment regimen that includes a cumulative cisplatin dose ≥ 200 mg/m² with individual cisplatin doses to be infused over ≤ 6 hours

Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate ≥ 70mL/min OR serum creatinine between 0.4 and 1.7 mg/dL, based on age and gender

Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) for age

AST or ALT < 2.5 times ULN for age

Not pregnant or nursing

Negative pregnancy test (if patient has child-bearing capacity)

Fertile patients must use effective contraception

No known hypersensitivity to sodium thiosulfate or other thiol agents (e.g., amifostine trihydrate, N-acetylcysteine, MESNA, or captopril)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics

No prior platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin)

Other prior chemotherapy allowed

Prior cranial radiotherapy (e.g., for treatment of medulloblastoma) allowed provided normal hearing is documented after completion of radiotherapy and before enrollment and administration of cisplatin chemotherapy